Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 100: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

90 I happened to be at the investigation. I hustled down to the super’s office and went in by the other door. I didn’t tell him any- thing then. I didn’t want the thing to come to a climax. I just wanted to find out how capable liars Osborne and Thorn- ton were. Your shoulders are pretty broad. I didn’t think it would do you any harm to carry the burden of that accusation for a while.” “Sutherland died a year ago,’’- Shelby. said. ‘Why did it take you so long to Jand him?” “T wanted to put him away for keeps when I did put him away,” Simpson said. “ He’s a crook. When I can give a crook rope, I do it. Besides, Mrs. Osborne was loyal ‘to Osborne till just recently. I don’t know what she wouldn’t have done for him. I had to wait for her reaction. And I had to get that confession: ‘“T thought at one time he was carrying it with him, because I know that he showed it to Miss Sutherland on two occasions. Each time he asked her to marry him. And each time she refused. The girl has courage. “One night I had Osborne held up and searched, but he didn’t have the paper with him. I had been planning to break into his desk for some time, but I kept putting it off, hoping there would be some other way. I’m no burglar.” ‘““Why didn’t you take Miss Sutherland into your confidence?” Shelby asked. “ She would have been saved a lot of worry.” Simpson tossed his cigar on his plate. His mouth settled into grim lines. He seemed to regret having talked so much. “ Because,” he said briefly, “I don’t usually take people into my confidence.” His mouth relaxed a little. “ I’ve told you this because you and that girl are about to come into something clean and fine and sweet. I’ve seen little of that in my busi- ness. Well, let’s move along.” Day had come while they had been in the restaurant. As they walked toward the hos- pital the sun. bathed the city in its golden light. Simpson stared straight ahead of him, a brooding look in his eyes. Shelby, being young, could not keep his heart from sing- ‘Ing something he had learned. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ing, though Simpson had just opened the book of life at a page of dark tragedy. It was five o’clock when they reached the hospital. “Ylt have to ask you to wait at the door,” Simpson said. ‘“ This is the final step and it has to be taken deliberately and cautiously.” He entered the hospital. Shelby waited patiently for half an hour. Then Simpson reappeared. Shelby scanned his face anxiously, but there was nothing unusual about it except a glow in his eyes. He seemed abstracted, as if he were absorbed in mentally digest- Shelby, walking beside him, felt as if Simpson scarcely knew he was there. They reached the railroad offices at half past five. The policeman was standing at the cornet of the building. Simpson nodded to him. “ That’s all Pl! want,” Simpson said. The policeman left. Simpson led the ‘way to the stairs. ‘* Just stand back when we get up there,” he ordered. “I'll handle this thing.” They went up the stairs. As they mount- ed them, Shelby could hear the rattle of the telegraph instruments in the despatch- er’s room. He knew that the door to the hall was open. At the landing Simpson paused, facing the open door. Beyond the door Shelby could see the night operator with his feet on the table, reading the morming paper. The despatchers’ table was not in view from where Shelby stood. Simpson took his revolver from his hip pocket and slipped it into his outside coat pocket. He stepped through the door. Shelby followed him. ‘ The operator looked over his shoulder. ‘* Hello, Silent,”’ he said sleepily. Simpson did not reply. He walked past him till he stood opposite the despatchers’ table. The despatcher and the copier on the other district were facing Simpson arid Shelby. Osborne and his despatcher sat with their backs to them. Shelby knew that Osborne must have heard the operator’s greeting to Simpson, but just now Osborne was copying an order COMmiclboo SS C©